NHTSA Complaint #11165049 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

I CALLED FORD IN OCTOBERFOR RECALL #14S05, BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STIFFEN UP TO THE POINT THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL IN THAT BATCH OF RECALLS. FORD STATED I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WORK DONE. I HAD CREDIT WITH FIRESTONE SO FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT THERE FOR THIS STIFF STEERING. FIRESTONE DID COMPLETE A BRAKE INSPECTION AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, AND AIR TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ON OCT 11, 2018. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME, THEN TO ONE CAR REPAIR PLACE AND THEN TO FIRESTONE CAR CARE SERVICE CENTER CAUSING ME TO SPEND CASH MONEY FOR ONE TOW, AND ONE BY TRIPLE AAA BOTH IN ONE DAY, AND NOW THIS RECENT TOW EXHAUSTED ALL MY TOWS WITH TRIPLE AAA. I CAN'T RE-TOW UNTIL OCT. 15, 2018 FOR RENEWAL, BUT RUN THE RISK IF IS THE SAME PROBLEM THEY STILL MAY NOT TOW MEANING ADDITIONAL MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET ON A RETIRED PENSION. ON DEC. 5, 2018 STIFF STEERING ISSUE RETURNED. I WAS ABOUT TO HEAD FOR ELGIN, ILLINOIS AND ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND NOTICED WHEN CHANGING LANES THE STEERING WHEEL BAGAN TO STIFFEN. I PULLED OVER AND HAD TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO. I MANAGED TO GET BACK ON EXPRESSWAY TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO MY AUNT'S HOME, AND THEN THE WHEEL GOT EXTREMELY STIFF ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR A TOW TO FIRESTONE SINCE I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THEY MAY HAVE DONE INCORRECTLY. FIRESTONE CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITY. IT IS A DEFECT, AND I NEED TO TAKE IT TO FORD.